Boating accident in Michigan leaves 2 children dead, 1 injured

John Newberry had just slipped into the water near his pontoon boat Sunday around noon when he saw a boat strike children tubing in Sylvan Lake in Michigan.

Newberry said he was 50 yards from the accident that claimed the lives of Alexander Mansour, 11, and his sister Gabrielle, 6. Their third sibling, Adriana, 10, was in critical condition on Sunday.

“I told my wife to get into the boat and call 911,” Newberry said. The Newberrys hurried over to the accident.

“I pulled the 6-year-old into the boat,” Newberry said, adding the boy’s father, John Mansour, also got onto his boat.

“I checked her pulse, ripped off her life jacket and was ready to do CPR when she gasped,” Newberry said.

He said doctors and other medical personnel got onto the boat to help out. A nearby ski boat driver picked up the 11-year-old and the 10-year-old to help them.

“We were yelling back and forth,” Newberry said. “It’s all a blur.”

Oakland County Sheriff’s Office deputies said the boy’s father was on a personal watercraft towing the children on a large tube traveling north to south when a boat traveling west to east hit the tube, striking all three children.

Both the father and the boat operator, a 56-year-old male, stopped and started to render aid.

The Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit’s invesigation was ongoing on Monday. One police official said there was no spotter on the personal watercraft. Alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the accident.

“How quickly a beautiful and joyous day turned to sorrow. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of the families involved in this tragedy, including those who responded to help,” said Sylvan Lake City Manager John Martin.